English Adjectives for Both Taste and Personality [Updated]

You probably know that you can use "cheesy" to describe a food like lasagna or pizza — but did you know that people can be cheesy too?

There are many English words like this that can refer to things we eat as well as the people we meet.

In addition to food, most of the words below can describe a person's personality or emotions, but a few describe body types instead. And don't worry — we've included lots of examples that show how to use each. Let's go!

English Words That Describe Food and People

Sweet

Most English learners will know this adjective, which is used to describe something with lots of sugar, like candy or soda.

This cake is too sweet for me.

She likes wine with a sweet flavor.

But when talking about people, the meaning becomes "gentle" or "caring."

Jenny is a sweet lady who always offers help to anyone who needs it.

You got me a present? That's so sweet of you!

Bitter

For food, "bitter" describes a strong, sharp taste. Some types of chocolate and certain drinks can be described as bitter. 

This coffee is quite bitter.

A bitter person is someone who's angry or upset about something — especially when they feel they've been treated unfairly.

Even though I apologized to him, he's still bitter about what happened. 

I wasn't bitter when my colleague got promoted instead of me.

Dry

Dry foods usually don't contain much moisture.

The meat will get dry if you overcook it.

When talking about alcohol, it means a drink is not sweet.

I need a bottle of dry red wine for the party.

If a person is called "dry," it can mean they seem unemotional or that they're uninteresting.

He has a pretty dry personality; he never shows what's on his mind.

"Dry" can also describe someone's sense of humor; this means they're very sarcastic or often use irony.

She's got a very dry sense of humor, so it's sometimes hard to tell when she's joking.

Related article: How Are UK and US Communication Styles Different?

Salty

It shouldn't be hard to imagine what this means for food. Something salty has a lot of salt! 🧂

This fish is way too salty for me to enjoy.

It's also used as slang to describe someone who's angry. This usage is almost the same as "bitter," though it's more casual.

He's salty because his team lost the match.

She was really salty when her boss asked her to come to the office on her day off.

Sour

Food is sour when it has the taste of acid (think of lemon juice, for example). You can also use it to describe some foods and drinks, such as milk, when they're no longer fresh.

I love this candy's mixture of sweet and sour flavors.

A person is sour when they're not friendly or cheerful.

The boss is in a sour mood today, so I would wait until later to speak with him.

"Sour" can also be used in the phrasal verb "sour on," which refers to feelings that change from positive to negative.

I loved this movie when it was released, but I've soured on it in recent years.

Vanilla

This is more than just a flavor of ice cream!

Something that's "vanilla" is not good or bad; instead, it's just average and not very special. This can describe people, products and much more.

I love this band, but their latest album is a bit vanilla; I don't love it or hate it.

Mary's presentation was a little vanilla. She didn't add any unique ideas to the discussion.

Rich

Someone who's rich has a lot of money.

My aunt and uncle are really rich. They go on expensive vacations at least twice a year.

Rich foods, however, have a lot of fat, butter or other "heavy" ingredients. These foods often make people feel full quickly.

The pasta was so rich that I couldn't finish it all.

"Rich" can also describe strong, intense tastes.

This ice cream has a rich chocolate flavor.

Fiery

You can use "fiery" to describe foods that are very spicy. 

This curry has the perfect balance of fiery spices and rich flavors.

On the other hand, someone with a fiery personality is very enthusiastic and often very confident.

The town's mayor is a fiery politician who always speaks her mind, even when it offends people.

It can also describe someone whose emotions can have big, dramatic changes.

The actor is known for his incredible skill and for his fiery, unpredictable personality.

Fishy

Naturally, something "fishy" smells or tastes like fish.

There's a fishy smell coming from the fridge. We should clean it out.

However, this word is more commonly used to describe behaviors or situations that are suspicious.

Mike has been acting really fishy lately. I think he's hiding something.

The company seemed fishy to her, so she decided to investigate and find out more.

Cheesy

Of course, "cheesy" foods contain a lot of cheese. 🧀

This pizza is so cheesy!

Besides food, it describes something that is not cool or that is too silly.

His cheesy jokes embarrassed everybody at the party.

"Cheesy" can also describe things like movies and songs. In addition to being silly, it includes the nuance of being too dramatic or emotional.

That movie was so cheesy! I couldn't take it seriously at all.

Doughy

Dough is a mixture of flour and liquid that's used to make bread, cakes and other snacks. As an adjective, it becomes "doughy," which describes something soft (like bread dough) or half-baked.

This pie crust is a little doughy because it wasn't cooked long enough.

For people, "doughy" casually describes someone who is overweight or who has a soft body. It may also include the nuance of an unhealthy lack of color in the skin.

I'm always a bit doughy at the end of the year; I eat a lot during the holiday season!

They rarely go outside or exercise, so they're all pretty doughy.

Meaty

Naturally, "meaty" foods have lots of meat in them.

I had a big, meaty sandwich for lunch.

When talking about people, "meaty" can mean that someone is overweight or that they're very muscular.

It's hard for him to type on the screen with his large, meaty fingers.

He's been working out, so he's got big, meaty arms.

Related article: 16 Words for Describing Different Body Types

Hearty

"Hearty" describes foods that are satisfying and likely to make you feel full. 

This cafe serves a hearty breakfast and very good coffee.

I had a hearty soup for lunch, so I'm not very hungry right now.

Aside from food, it can mean "healthy" and/or "cheerful."

The restaurant's staff members let out a hearty "Welcome!" when we stepped inside.

My father is still hale and hearty* at the age of 97.

"Hale and hearty" means healthy and energetic, especially when talking about older people.

Wrap-up

From "salty" attitudes to a "dry" sense of humor, the ways we describe food are often similar to how we talk about people. Do you have similar expressions in your native language?

If you'd like to learn more English about food, we recommend the following article, which collects many posts in one place: Topic Focus: English for Food and Drink 

• idioms
• Vocabulary